ARSENAL have endured a difficult start to the season and Arsene Wenger's position is being called into question again - Express Sport brings you the latest news from the Emirates.

Arsenal news LIVE updates: Follow below for the latest news and gossip from the Emirates

Wednesday September 6

Sanchez to City for just £20m

08:00: Alexis Sanchez could join Manchester City for just £20million in January, according to reports.

The Arsenal contract rebel was close to joining City on deadline day after the Gunners accepted a bid totalling £60m for him to leave the Emirates.

However, his move was blocked after Arsenal failed to land top target Thomas Lemar from Monaco.

City remain confident about signing Sanchez, but The Sun say they are unlikely to bid anymore than £20m for his services due to having only six months left on his contract by the time the window reopens in January.

Arsenal to go back in for Sterling?

07:00: Arsenal could resurrect their interest in Manchester City star Raheem Sterling.

City were interested in a player-plus-cash deal, as they wanted to land Alexis Sanchez.

On deadline day, the Gunners accepted a £60m bid for Sanchez before they pulled the plug, as they knew they wouldn’t have enough time to find a replacement for Sanchez.

But according to the Daily Telegraph, Arsenal could be encouraged to make a move for Sterling if City chase Sanchez again.

The report adds Chelsea could also enter the race for his services.

Wenger wants January transfer window scrapped

06:00: Arsene Wenger has called for the January transfer window to be scrapped as it unsettles players who are looking for their next move.

"The players who do not play or the players who are tapped up in October they already start again to think: 'Where do I go in January?'. That's not a way to be on board with a football club..." Wenger told beIN Sports.

"We are here to entertain people and you can do that with people who are really on board together, to achieve something together and not every minute that it doesn't go well to think: 'Where can I go next?'"

The Gunners boss has instead called for a single annual transfer window at the end of the season in a bid to restore the decency of the sport.

"I believe that we have to bring some decency. We all complain today that it has become too much a business, but we can do something about it. We have that responsibility in the game," he added.

"You can't have a player preparing for a vital football game and still be on the phone at 4 o'clock: 'Do I go or not?' or 'How much is it?', 'Where do I go?'

"The ideal situation would be to have a transfer period that is closed 48 hours before the first game of the championship and to close it completely until the season after."

EPA

Arsenal Transfer News: Manchester City could sign Alexis Sanchez for as little as £20m

Tuesday September 5

Van Dijk deal

22:42: Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk had a deal in place with two of Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal, according to journalist Gabriele Marcotti.

On Twitter, a follower put it to him: "I lost count of how many people said VVD would be joining Liverpool… or Chelsea… or Arsenal…"

To which Marcotti replied: "He had a deal in place with two of those clubs… but sometimes stuff happens, as you saw…"

Matuidi snub

19:52: Blaise Matuidi turned down three clubs in England to join Juventus in the summer.

That is according to France Football, who claim Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City were all interested in signing Matuidi.

The Premier League trio reportedly all made advances for Matuidi, but the 30-year-old had his heart set on a move to Juventus.

Effenburg rips into Ozil

"I have seen matches with Mesut where I say: 'he must do more'. I remember those matches against Bayern in the Champions League. He disappointed many people there - including [Germany manager] Joachim Low,” he wrote in his column for t-online.

"Steven Gerrard said he would let his team down and be a burden in matches away from home.

“You can't say he is completely wrong. Ozil has to see and realise that.

"It is not like he is 20 years old and a young player. He turns 29 in October.

“You wait for an improvement in that area for years. You hoped there would be a development, but it hasn't happen."

Ozil wrong to criticise

16.15: Arsenal star Mesut Ozil is wrong to criticise former players because he is yet to commit his future to the club, according tp pundit and former Chelsea midfielder Craig Burley.

Ozil hit out at ex-Arsenal stars in a statement he released on his social media on Saturday evening, asking for them to support him and the team, rather than criticise them.

The 28-year-old could leave Arsenal for free next summer with his contract expiring and Burley says that is hardly the kind of “support” that the German international has been asking for himself.

Burley said on ESPN FC: “Here’s what you’ve got with Mesut Ozil, he’s criticising former players for criticising, saying ‘get behind us and support us, oh and by the way, in the meantime I am just going to sit back and hold the club to ransom on a £300,000-a-week contract (offer)’ or whatever it is.

“He’s not signed has he, so he’s not exactly supporting his club by not signing a contract, but they’ve got to get behind him whilst he makes his mind up? I think not.”

Arsenal in for Rafinha

14.45: Barcelona midfielder Rafinha is reportedly a January target for Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham, according to reports in Spain.

He was linked with a move away from the Nou Camp this summer but a long-term knee injury put paid to his exit.

However, the midfielder has been working hard to get back to full fitness and is targeting a January move.

And according to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, the 24-year-old is attracting attention from Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham.

Ozil 'ridiculous' - Mariner

10.30: Mesut Ozil must forget about criticism off the pitch and concentrate on performing on it, according to former Arsenal striker Paul Mariner.

Ozil released a statement on Saturday evening, hitting out at critics of his performances for Arsenal, especially former Gunners players.

“If he played for Arsenal like he did for Germany, we would have no arguments.

“He’s got to forget all this rubbish about answering the Twitter people and the public, he’s got to put his boots on and play football, get after it!”

Draxler never considered exit

09.40: Julian Draxler claims he never thought about leaving PSG last month.

Draxler’s future was in doubt after the signings of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.

He was linked with Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United.

But the German insists he is looking forward to the competition for places and the project in Paris.

“I only played two games for a short time [on the pitch] in Paris, but I came back to training four weeks later than other players because of the Confederations Cup,” Draxler toldRTL. “That’s something which is forgotten about in the media sometimes.

“The 90 minutes [against Norway] have been very, very important for me. I also sent a sign to Paris that they can bank on me.

“I am greatly looking forward to playing with [Neymar and Mbappe] — but, if players are bought for €222m or €180m, they have an advantage on paper.

“But I am confident — that’s why I didn’t think about leaving Paris.”

Sanchez's role model

07.30: Alexis Sanchez must use Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Suarez as role models this season, according to Graeme Souness.

"If Alexis Sanchez and Philippe Coutinho need role models after failing to get the transfers they pushed for, then they need look no further than Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Suarez," Souness told The Times.

"They could have sulked after being told to stay another year at Manchester United and Liverpool, but instead they proved their quality.

“The supporters of Arsenal and Liverpool will be looking at Sanchez and Coutinho closely this season to see what they are giving."

Fans make Ozil demand

04:00: Desperate Arsenal fans have pleaded with Mesut Ozil to recruit Julian Draxler to the Emirates after the two starred in Germany's 6-0 win over Norway last night.

Ozil scored one and set up Draxler as Germany ruthlessly took apart Norway to move one step closer to World Cup qualification.

The Arsenal star Tweeted a photo after the match of himself and Draxler smiling, prompting Arsenal fans to call upon their star player to tempt long-term Gunners target Draxler into moving to the Emirates.

One fan wrote: “Why didn’t you make draw join AFC? The kid loves you and leaves his heart on the field overtime he plays with you :(“

Crunch contract talks

02:00: In the wake of Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez's contract debacle, Arsenal are reportedly planning to avoid a similar situation next summer.

Theo Walcott, Aaron Ramsey and Danny Welbeck are among the players out of contract in 2019 and the Gunners are keen to tie them up to new deals.

Both Ozil and Sanchez will be able to enter pre-contract talks with potential suitors in January and the Daily Mail report they are expected to leave on a free next summer.

But the report goes on to say the club is eager to avoid a similar situation playing out and want to sort out their contract situation.

TWITTER

Mesut Ozil's tweet led to Arsenal fans calling on him to recruit Julian Draxler

Monday September 4

Happy Sanchez

21:19: Alexis Sanchez is back to his old self after getting over his failed move from Arsenal to Manchester City on deadline day.

Sanchez was fuming a deal to switch clubs on Thursday fell through late on.

The player was visibly furious during Chile’s shock 3-0 defeat to Paraguay, which kicked off almost immediately after the transfer window closed.

But Sanchez has not let the disappointment hang over him.

According to Chilean newspaper El Mercurio, the 28-year-old was back to his chirpy best during training today ahead of his country’s World Cup qualifier against Bolivia tomorrow (9pm).

Wenger may regret signing - Clarke

17.50: Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger may be regretting signing a new two-year deal at the club, according to former Gunner Adrian Clarke.

Yesterday Wenger claimed he had conversations with Paris Saint-Germain about becoming their manager before signing on at Arsenal last season.

Arsenal statement of ambtion

The duo remain at Arsenal despite their contracts running out at the end of the season - making both likely to leave for free or for a cut price in January.

But the chief executive says: “It was a clear statement of our ambitions and should help refute suggestions we are just about the money.

“That is simply nonsense.”

Although Arsenal sold Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for £35m to Liverpool, Gazidis believes the club is in great shape.

He said: “At the end of the window, reviewing all activity, we have once again improved the quality and depth of our squad.”

Wenger plea

12:30: Arsene Wenger has issued an apology for Arsenal's defeat to Liverpool and called on the club's fans to give more support.

He told beIN SPORTS: "People always make their mind up very quickly.

The players forget very quickly how good they are. Much quicker than you think.

"We have to continue to believe in our strengths and not forget that to have a successful season we need our fans.

"Our fans can say 'OK our squad is not good enough, we are not good enough and think OK we have no chance'.

"That will not work. We want our fans to be behind us in this moment, even though we are very sorry for what we delivered but to have a successful team we need to have that.

"Let’s not forget, not one and a half months ago we won the FA Community Shield and the FA Cup in a very convincing way with the same players,’ he added.

"What we learnt from this defeat is that we were not at all at the level that is expected from us and that we must, very quickly, show that was a complete accident.

"It would be absolutely stupid to say today that we give up in the race for the championship."

Transfer saga continues...

The extent of Arsenal's disappointing transfer window has been sensationally revealed.

Arsenal made just two signings - Sead Kolasinac and Alexandre Lacazette - saw several players leave including Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, moves for Thomas Lemar fail and manager Arsene Wenger received a barrage of criticism.

But in a post on Twitter, BBC Sport reporter David Ornstein has detailed the level of chaos at Arsenal this summer.

Express Sport brings you the best from today's back pages!

Wright hits out at Ozil

07.25: Ian Wright has hit back at Mesut Ozil after the Arsenal player attacked his critics.

Ozil claimed the criticism he and the Arsenal player received was unfair and called on them to back off.

But Wright dug in again by saying: “Instead of coming out and having a go at the so-called former players in respect of what they’re saying.

“We’re not talking about former players criticising a team that’s charging up the league.

“We’re talking about a team that’s underperforming and not only that, but the board, the manager with his decision, everybody.

“I’d rather see Mesut Ozil, with his ability, and I’ve been on this show so many times and protected him.

“People have slaughtered me for that but the fact he’s coming out now saying that… sign a contract if you feel that strongly about people criticising the team because you’re somebody who is integral to Arsenal’s success.

“You’re not singing the deal and you’re probably going to keep hiding behind the fact that Sanchez is the one that everybody’s going to keep asking whether he’s going to go.

“Why haven’t you signed yet? If you feel that strongly why haven’ you signed yet?

“It’s laughable.”

GETTY

Mesut Ozil has been told to sign a new deal by Ian Wright

Mbappe can be Pele

07.10: Arsene Wenger has confirmed Arsenal made a a move for Kylian Mbappe.

The France wonderkid signed for PSG on loan with the agreement to make the deal permanent next summer.

And Wenger thinks he could be the new Pele.

"Mbappe could be [the next] Pele," he said. "There are no limits to how far he can go.

"I wanted him too, but €180m is too much for us."

GETTY

Arsene Wenger admits he wanted to sign Kylian Mbappe from Monaco but couldn't afford him

Lemar transfer plan

07.00: Arsene Wenger has confirmed he will go back in for Thomas Lemar.

Arsenal tried to sign Lemar on deadline day after agreeing a fee with Manchester City for the sale of Alexis Sanchez.

But Lemar turned them down in favour of staying at Monaco and playing the Champions League.

But Wenger insisted he will go back in for him.

"Yes, we bid €100m for Lemar but the player wanted to stay in Monaco," Wenger said in an interview with Telefoot.